Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 5, 1902
The Meeting of the Men Yesterday.
Masters and Men Conferred Today.
The Prospects of a Settlement.
The momentous struggle which originated with the bag dirt question has now reached an acute crisis, and the situation has undergone a drastic change. It will be remembered that in the very onset of the strike the men made a false start in coming out without giving proper and legal notice. Consequently the Union could not see its way clear to give strike pay, and the men were urged to go back to the collieries and give notice. They went back, and formally tendered their notices, and the Barnsley Union decided to grant union pay. It is asserted by the Colliery Company that the terms the men claimed when the strike originated meant that the ???? pay claimed would be an increase of 14 per cent. At one interview the company claimed that the men were always paid for bag dirt. ‘ride’ the primary price list. And so
The Fight
started, and the first direct blow aimed at the men was the issue, by the company, of summonses against the men for leaving their employment without proper notice, the verdict going to the plaintiffs, who secured an order for the payment of £6 damages per man. Following this came the application of the men for an interview with the owners ,and the answer to their appeal was in the negative, the Company claiming that since they had left without proper notice they could not be recognised as employees. Then it was that the men realised that
A Bitter Struggle Faced Them,
and the watchword was passed along the line “Be calm,” a request which, up to now, has been observed by the hundreds of affected men. As week after week passed on, and the company held aloof from the overtures of the men, the whole district recognised the intensely serious nature of the struggle, and last week the Mexboro’ Urban District Council, in the interests of peace, comfort, and prosperity, intervened and organised a deputation to Mr. Chambers, to try and bring about a meeting between masters and men. That their action was appreciated by both sides there can be no doubt, and the Council can be cordially congratulated on trying to bring about a settlement. From time to time. as the struggle continued, the men held mass meetings, and their leaders again and again voiced the general determination not to give in, but the Denaby company brought yet another force to augment their side of the question, and that was the application for
750 Eviction Orders,
which came on for hearing at Doncaster last Saturday. This was a facer to the men, but they never flinched, and sent Mr. Andrews to represent their interests. He did not dispute the legality of the claim, but urged a postponement of the order on the grounds of humanity, pleading that the women and children of the miners might be allowed to spend Christmas – a time of “Peace on earth, good will towards men” – by their own firesides, and not be turned out to again endure such hardships as felt to their lot in memorable ’85, when bleak winter and its attendant discomforts had to be faced ‘neath the all-too-slight protection of tents in the open air. Mr. Gichard, who made the application, fell in with the wishes of Mr. Andrews, and altered it so as to meet his wishes. Had the ejectment orders been granted on Saturday, the evictions would have taken place during Christmas week, and this would have been a truly miserable and deplorable state of affairs. Happily, however, the men are spared that ordeal through the adjournment of the application for a fortnight, although such a regrettable step may follow in the early days of the new year. We sincerely trust it will never materialise, and that some understanding will be arrived at, so that the men can resume work, and enjoy the additional home comforts that must necessarily follow. Mr Gichard, on behalf of the company, recognised the odium with which a Christmas eviction would be received by all classes of the community, and, believing in the efficacy of the strong being merciful, he applied to the Bench to permit the applications to stand over for a fortnight. The impression that prevails in some quarters that the men could not be turned out of their houses, is, of course, wrong, but English law, strange to say, is not always just, for a legal right sometimes savours of a moral wrong, and the great British public would naturally be aroused to a state of indignation were the letter rigidly observed, and the finer feelings of human sentiment callously brushed aside.
A Reprieve Has Been Granted,
sentence has been deferred, and before this terrible weapon of ejectment actually falls on the heads of many families, in the interests of trade, comfort, and peace, and on the grounds of common humanity, it is to be hoped that the question will be settled on a satisfactory basis, although at present the situation, on the main and contested points, is unchanged. Mr. Andrews, for the men, seemed to suggest that the fortnight’s grace would probably bring a happy solution of the difficulties, and said a meeting to this end might take place between the masters and men. This meeting, we are glad to say, will take place to-day, and that the dispute will be ended is the fervent hope of every right-thinking man.
The Fighting Has Been Severe,
but the period for “Time” to be called has arrived, and the sooner it is called the better for all concerned. The conciliatory attitude of the rival solicitors in the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Saturday, was most pleasing, and if only this spirit could be followed out by both masters and men, the road to the end would be made much easier. Certainly it was a “silver lining” on the situation, but not sufficient to materially break the gloom and darkness of the long-drawn-out conflict. Naturally, all along, the strike has been the chief topic of conversation, whether in the railway carriage, club, street, or in the homes; and the stopping of the “wheels of industry” has left its mark on the district in more ways than one. When
A Little Army of 4000 Workers
throw down their tools, the effect is considerably more damaging to local trade than appears at first sight, and although the strike pay has amounted to about £1,200 a week, yet the loss sustained by the community at large is severe, whilst the miners themselves experience the bitterness of worry stricken family circles. Looking coolly at the situation there appears to be no doubt that a
Revision of The Price List
by the men was rather too one-sided and for the masters to agree to, and they still contend that they cannot consider it at any meeting of the contending parties. In the early days of this week a persistent rumour circulated round the town and district that the Miners’ Association had been compelled to stop strike pay, but no verification could be obtained previous to the mass meeting of yesterday, which was eagerly awaited to throw fresh light on the existing state of affairs. That meeting again demonstrated
The Determined Attitude of the Men,
and they received the notification from their local leaders that the Barnsley Union had been served with an injunction to stop strike pay, with a calmness, born of conviction that their Association had been legally advised that such a step could not be taken, and with the promise that their local interests would be looked after as long as there was a “penny in the locker” to fight with. They considered they had scored a point when it was announced that Mr. Chambers had agreed to meet the men. Strong and emphatic disapproval was expressed at the action of the miner (Howden), who had applied for the writ; and his conduct in turning round on the men who had “backed” him up in a dispute with the colliery company, and showing his gratitude in a way that was deemed treacherous and mean to the lowest degree. The tone of the meeting was one full of fight; and the men dispersed, as dogged in the path they had cut out to walk as at the very commencement. Hardly, however, had they melted away when verification of the stopping of strike payment came, an official from Barnsley bringing information about stoppage of strike pay.